Conveyer system for oven trays and the like



June 20, 1950 M. MASSIELLO CONVEYER SYSTEM FOR OVEN TRAYS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 3, 1947 INVENTOR WWI FRIED M4ff/El 4 0 June 20, 1950 M. MASSIELLO CONVEYER SYSTEM FOR OVEN TRAYS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 3, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 2Q, 11954) M. MASSHELLO 3 CONVEYER SYSTEM FOR OVEN TRAYS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jum 2, 195@ M. MASSHELLQ 2.511235% CONVEYER SYSTEM FOR OVEN TRAYS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. :5, 1.947

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 20, 1950 CONVEYER SYSTEM FOR OVEN TRAYS AND THE LIKE Manfred Massiello, Englewood, N. J assignor to Charles Gottfried, New York, N. Y.

Application September 3, 1947, Serial No. 771,889

13 Claims. 1

My present invention relates generally to conveyor systems, and has particular reference to a conveyor permanently associated with a series of spaced tray elements or the like and continuously transporting them along a closed path of travel.

A conveyor of the present improved type may find utility in a variety of arts, but is primarily intended for baking ovens. Therefore, to explain the features of the invention I have herein illustrated and shall hereinafter describe a conveyor system for use in a baking oven, but it will be understood that certain phases'of the invention are not necessarily restricted to such field of use.

In an oven of the kind to which the invention is applicable, a series of trays are transported successively past an access aperture in the front wall of the oven, so that they may be loaded and unloaded as they pass. The trays convey the items to be baked through a path of travel within the oven and in due course return the baked items to the starting point. Usually the path of travel is upward from the loading aperture, thence rearward along the top of the oven chamber, and then back and forth along successively lower tiers or runs of travel. In a relatively simple construction the trays travel rearwardly along one substantially horizontal run and return along a lower run, the conveyor thus moving through a single loop of travel which includes a substantially U-shaped are at each end. It is this type of conveyor which I have herein chosen for illustration.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified means for maintaining the trays in a normal angularity to the horizontal throughout their travel. It is a more particular object to achieve this result in a system which comprises a pair of spaced aligned conveyor chains and a series of trays supported between them and pivotally articulated to each chain.

Since the articulation and the stabilization and guidance mechanism is the same at both ends of the tray, reference will be made hereinafter to only one of the chains and to the cooperating pins, rollers sociated with it.

In accordance with my invention, each tray is provided with a centrally disposed pivot by means of which it is supported by the chain. A pair of horizontally ailgned rollers or equivalent elements are carried by the tray on opposite sides of the pivot, respectively, and during each of the horizontal runs of travel of the chain and tray these rollers rest upon and move in guided and supported relation along a guide rail. This and other elements which are asrail may be of such width that it serves also to support the chain itself. At each arcuate travel portion, the leading one of said rollers is guided and stabilized by a relatively fixed roller guide of arcuate character, while the trailing one of said rollers is engaged by a special stabilizing sprocket. I

One of the features of the present improvement lies in the fact that at each arcuate travel portion the corresponding chain-guiding sprocket is mounted in axially-aligned relation to said stabilizing sprocket, i. e., it lies at a distance from the curved chain portion as the chain doubles upon itself to reverse its travel. The chain-guiding sprocket engages the chain along both runs and moves in unison with the stabilizing sprocket. It may also serve as adriving sprocket for the chain, if desired.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a second set of horizontally aligned rollers or equivalent elements on the tray at a level above that of the first-mentioned set. These auxiliary rollers are adapted to engage with and find stabilizing support upon a speciallydesigned shelf which is provided at the extreme end of the upper tier of horizontal travel. This shelf is in effect an elevated continuation of the guide rail upon which the tray is supported during its upper run of travel.

I achieve these general objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of the chain which is mounted along one side wall of the oven, its movement being along the direction of the arrow, and the trays being omitted for the sake of clearness;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the left end of Figure 1, showing an illustrative tray in crosssection and other elements which are omitted from Figure 1;

v Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially alon the directions B-t of Figure 2;

Figures 7-9 are diagrammatic views indicating the stabilization of a tray at the left end of Figure 1;

Figures 10-12 are similar diagrammatic views "pa rs and b in ni e el y of the stabilization at the right end of Figure l; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of an illustrative tray.

An understanding of the nature and mode of operation of the invention will be facilitated by referring first to Figure 13. In this figure I have shown an illustrative tray of the character which may be used where the invention is applied to an oven of the character hereinbeiore mentioned The tray shown has a flat body portion 23 upon which the items to be baked are supported. Usually these items are applied to a separate flat element or peel which is placed bodily upon the tray portion 20. The tray 2 is preferably as wide as the oven chamber will permit. At its opposite side edges there are upstanding walls 2|, and projecting from each of these walls are the pivot pin and roller elements shown at the ri ht e d 9 i ur .3; S2 hhe v qhneeed relat ely leh Riv t h his .ef'v eh th t ay i a t leted'te th c at, M. he'eq eshehsit e. eh e. e. the wee Oh e Lee e e "e the p v'etzz are the wher e ee Li ht e m nt The irehe e e erieehte he ei with each other and with the pivot 22.' At a slightly eleva ed lev the is e eeeehd e auxil ar 9? reh re er h emehh 24 l e ehene horiz gntally with each other." The rollers 23 are ho r h l th th n ehi eh 22. a the re iere' 4 a e sh l e t t e e a 2 "has been inentioned',"there'is a similar set 'e mehi h e' r th se ens z the sweet hee hee 'Q he si e. try h eee dee rhe eh of the id e th e e e eyet is surfi cient to explain the teatur oi the inven'- tion, and for tliesake' of simplicity the reference n meral 2. h 9 he use hrhh he he epeeihe e n h se ere? h f e h e ehet h pe -be er' eeleendine' t9 hose she I} he i. e' reeeh lehsh hieh heme-e hi.-

B h new he Fi re 1 the (Pee e? the side w te the veh' j T e'eiehe ed 2. she her T th hrel reeeehe' t th e @hhihl e. hh nee e m ta ehe' j e' te zten ehrieee- Meh tee' e me ehi hti .e e were; s e conveyor chainZTw'h' may b'e'lofi the usual linked kind, the linksb ein' 'ar'ra ed spaced he eeeeehr lhhieh e e e he 9? these lists. hewh h "messa es Ph at it. arid the connecting pivot or roller at $1 the parte bein P t v uni d with th kit l the i The h hewh h e s is there it. the d r e ie Qf't f err w i F e ethereal e ht al ne t fter 2 t e 9? travel and toward the left arose the lower run I, at the e t! where the be?! 1. 3 553. Ea 99 I eree t h veh it e he ehdih telet eh are? e fitt d. e e i i h i 's". tlelez h Yi eiteh v convex surface. Thisgui'danceinay be enhariced he h rev eieh e eh eh sihe v ee e 'ye ehe guide w i h Diet sit f he chain- At the right end Fig e ijthere' is a similar convex. e eih h ee'ii eater eeheeve chain guide 'is'nothsually" necessary where the equiv t er;

chain movement is downward, as at this end.

4 ing with the chain, between the chain pivots, in well-known fashion. The sprocket 35 is mounted on a shaft 3'], and if this shaft is to serve as a drive shaft it is in keyed relation to the sprocket, as shown. The sprocket 36 is mounted on the shaft 38 but need not be keyed to it.

Extending between the sprockets 35 and 36, along the upper run of travel, is a guide rail 39 upon which the chain may slide. Since this rail is necessarily below the level of the uppermost teeth oi the sprockets, it terminates adjacent to the sprockets, as shown. It is continued, however, in effect, by the elevated shelf 40 at one end (Figures 2, 6-, 1-9), and by the similar eleyated shelf 4| at the other (Figures 1042). Along the lower run of travel of the chain, there is another guide rail 42, and since this rail lies Adjacent to but spaced from each arcuately v curved chain portion is a chain-guiding sprocket. The one at the left 'of'Fig'ure 1 is designated $5 the one at the right, 35. Either one. or both, may serve as a driving instrument if desired.

Each one engages the chain along'both oi heveh s ehewh the te th e th eel-W enga ate the have it the se l rs w th th heie if below the level of the sprockets it continues past the sprockets at each end. The chain rides along this eihqe ra l sh in h lever we h teev t I the ehhe tet aid Shh; h. si sheh e e hreYiee e-hi h h its wh e eeth-es eere e se en h q. it ht ee eet e speee iee ees eieh'e t e eheia th 19:9 is ii rii sheet in T e ivot 22 is a; e with v, it it. hain iw s sees as ie-tiers n a it, the t e th ehteh eete eehr th e time it ehehee elet ehl I f 1 The ,eteh et eh hi the t y titties its trave eiehe th' 'lewe fhethiehtel te; t eet e by sheath Width o iihe iei t he. eti a i etehi sat en as the A t t e. 7 2-: bat se l.-

. e ear n t e] ihetrev-ter zh e h it heihiel. eee'e e he hehiaeste th ehh h he e e th ater iil iiie. it hevei e eh the with th where e-rest Q. i Jai iiwh ehie m ee wide eheeeh a thi 2 9 se im- Th e ehh hetieh eit e. items i t ehseenee en bier; 'th

23 l te h e e eftelehihi ie ii ehet enga es the llh r ies E end 31v hlehiehtaxv en age.-

.shel e. it and 421... a 4. it il he hies 5 129 ishes 3 n.

rved there is a. eeeehtiq sea-man @Qhhi-FQ W sh teeee t r e. the. ehaineeuh shit. et .5-. v.i fheee ishteehetsere a an d in a e h ahelte i tethis t evm .niit he hereii f e the sheet at ehewa they ee'heth se etee he a ee zseeneel er t5 Whieh is t the sh ait Ughe stahilihiI-lg sprocket 44 o our. he 921 the. QYBi'l wall than the ehte he it?! E l-PS is in the pla e at mevemenmr the rollers 23. Its teeth are so spaced and of s e. elati e tethe eneeinef and si of the i lii i s gg ib fi i n a e these rollers-succes- She ia the e se. hY- t. i the spro k M i 9? the sprocketxat is 315 9 3? hehie 2 Ethel i the e ore not visibl in this figure. v

3 1. hain mov s :uDWa dhiar-ound. the chai 32 @iggresi-and, 2;), thetrailing P 2 i engagementwan th sigheehet M a shewn'mest clea -1v in'Figu'r-e 3-. ht P13? 5 i hflnthfi leading roller. 23 enters the ea es xehe sn ee ennei whi hs -"m d hetweeh t e te eqnvexly. curved-element as ghhezthe PehelleLeeeeateelement at. The latter s h hhted. headset 4a. "-and constitutes" a eurved continuation of the guide man, so far as the roller 23 is concerned. The tray thus remains in its normal angularity to the horizontal as it moves upwardly toward the upperlevel. As it approaches this level, the rollers 24 enteropenings 49 in the shelf 40 (Figures 2, 6, 7-9) and assume positions resting on this shelf (Figure 9). This serves to support and stabilize the tray until the rollers 23 again take over the support of the tray by rest ing and riding upon the upper guide rail 39.

At the rear end of the travel-,a similar opera.- tion takes place, but in reverse order. There is a stabilizing sprocket 5D coaxially' mounted and rotating in unisodwitlrthe chain-guiding sprocket 36, and its teeth engage with the rollers '23 as they pass by. As these rollers move off-the ures l and l-12)-while the trailing roller remains in engagement with the stabilizing sprocket E9. Ultimately, the rollers 23 rest upon the rail 42 again (Figure 12).

At the rear end, i. e., wherever the tray is being lowered by the chain, there is no need for a concave guide element corresponding to that shown at 37.

The invention is obviously not restricted to a single loop of travel of the character shown. The circuit may be of greater complexity, and may involve, for example, a series of runs of travel at successive levels. In each case, however, wherever the chain curves upwardly, the parts and elements may be arranged and caused to function as shown in Figures "7-9, and wherever the 1chain curves downwardly, the construction and. operation shown in Figures l2 may be resorted to.

In general, it will be understood that changes in the details herein described and illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without necessarily departin from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a conveyor system, an endless chain, a chain-guiding sprocket, an element provided with a pivot and supported thereby on said chain for transportation along the cycle of travel of said chain, and means for maintaining said element in a predetermined angularity to the horizontal, said means comprising a pair of spaced horizontally-aligned rollers carried by said element on opposite sides of said pivot respectively, a stabilizing sprocket coaxially mounted with said chain-guiding sprocket and adapted to engage said rollers as the element passes, and a fixed roller-guide positioned for encounter by one of said rollers as the element is carried through the arcuate path around said sprockets.

2. In a conveyor system, an endless chain, means for moving the chain along a closed path of travel which includes an are at which the chain reverses its travel from one substantially horizontal run to another, a chain-guiding sprocket adjacent to but spaced from said are and engaging said chain along both runs, a tray pro- 6 vide'd'with a pivot andsupporte'd thereby onis'aid chain for transportation along the cycle of travel of said chain, and means for maintaining said tray .in a predetermined angularity to the horielements set forth in claim 2, said chain-guiding and stabilizing sprockets being operativelyconnected to rotate in unison.

' 4. In a conveyor system, the combination with the elements set forth in claim 2, of a guiderail engaging said tray. at opposite-sides ofsaid pivot during the movement-ofsaid tray along each of said runs of travel.

5. In a conveyor system, the combinationwith the elements set forth in claim -2, of a .guiderail engaging said rollers during the movementof-said tray along each of said runs of travel.

6. In a conveyor system, the combinationwith the elements set forth in claim 2, of ,aguide. rail engaging said rollers duringthe movement of said tray along each of said runs of. travel,the upper guide rail terminating at said stabilizing. sprocket,

a guide shelfat .an elevated level. above said sprocket,.and an auxiliary'setof rollers carried by saidtray for engagement with said shelf while the first-mentioned rollers areout of engagement with said upper guidesrail.-

7. In a conveyor system, an endless chain, means rormoving the chain alonga closed-path of travel whichincludesan arc atwhich, the. chain reverses its travel from one substantially horizontal run to another, a chain guide engaging said chain along said arcuate path, a chain-guiding sprocket adjacent to but spaced from said are and engaging said chain along both runs, and a tray provided with a centrally-disposed pivot and supported thereby on said chain for transportation along the path of travel of said chain.

8. In a conveyor system, an endless chain, means for moving the chain along a closed path of travel which includes an are at which the chain reverses its travel from one substantially horizontal run to another, a chain guide engaging said chain along said arcuate path, a chain-guiding sprocket adjacent to but spaced from said are and engaging said chain along both runs, a tray provided with a centrally-disposed pivot and supported thereby on said chain for transportation along the path of travel of said chain, and means engaging the tray at at least one point spaced from the pivot during the movement or the tray along said arcuate path in order to retain the tray in its normal angularity to the horizontal.

9. In a conveyor system, an endless chain, means for moving the chain along a closed path of travel which includes an are at which the chain reverses its travel from one substantially horizontal run to another, a chain guide engaging said chain along said arcuate path, a chain-guiding sprocket adjacent to but spaced from said are and engaging said chain along both runs, a tray provided with a centrally-disposed pivot and supported thereby on said chain for transportation along the path of travel of said chain, and means engaging the tray at at least one point spaced from the pivot during the movement of the tray along said arcuate path in order to re tainthetrayin its normalangularitytothe horizontal, said; means comprising a. roller on said tray, and a staiziilizingsprocket adapted. to. en-

gage said roller andicoaxiallymounted and rotatof. travel which includes an. arc at which the chain reverses itsv travel from one.substa.ntialli horizontal run to. another, a chain guide engagingsaid chain along said arcuate path, a chaing'uiding. sprocket adjacent to. but spaced from said. are and engaging. said. chain along both runs, a tnavprovidedwith. a centrally-disposed pivot and: supported thereby on said. chain for transportation along. thepath of. travel of said chain, and means engaging. thetray at at least one. point spaced. from the. pivot during the movement ofthe trayalongsaid: arcuate path in ordertoretain thetray in\its normal angularity to the horizontal, said means comprisinga pair of. rollers on said'tray, aroller guide positioned tohe encountered by the leading roller, and a second. roller guide concentric and movable. with said chaineguiding sprocket for engaging the trailingl roller.

11. Inan oven, tray-conveying meansincluding an endless chain, a, drive sprocket near each of. the looped ends of-thechain, a tray. pivoted to said chain, projections on the ends of. the

tray on opposite sidesof the pivot :axisof. the tray, a timing sprocket adjacent toand on the some shaftas the drive sprocket and havingthe same pitch diameter as the drive sprocket, said timing sprocket engagingoneojthe projections otthe tray-to control its planar relation with respect to the-pivot axis-ofthetrayas the direction or movement of: the chain is reversed.

12; In a device of theclass described, an endless chain, a drive. sprocket near-the end of-said chain, a timin procket on the shaft of the drive sprocket and disposed adjacent said drive sprocket, said sprockets having the same pitch diameter, a tray pivoted to said chain, studs extending from the end of said tray on opposite sides of the pivot axis, said device having curved guideways disposed beyond said sprockets and of the same arcuate radiusas the sprockets, one of said guide-ways to receive the chain and the. other to receive one ofsaid studs, whereby the movements of these portions are guided in the reversal of the movement of the chain.

13, In an oven, conveying meansincluding an endless chain, a, drivev sprocket near the end of said chain, a. timing sprocket moved in company and in alignment with the drive sprocket and diSDOSed adjacent said drive sprocket, said sprockets. having the same pitch diameter, a tray pivoted to said chain, studs extending from the end of said tray on opposite sides of the pivot, a shoe disposed beyond the drive sprocket and having a surface over which the chain passes in reversing its direction of motion, the radius of curvature of said surface being the same as that of the drive sprocket, and a second shoe beyond thefirst shoe to receive and guide one of the studs and having the same radius of curvature on its studengaging surface.

MANFRED MASSIELLO.

nnrnnsncns crrnn The following references are of recordinth file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 599,037 Ford Feb. 15, 1898 1,364,020 Barletta Dec. 28, 1920 2,068,070 Pray Jan. 19, 193"! 2,195,326 Crawford Mar. 26, 1940 

